18/02/25 07:18
Nothing says Paris tomorrow more than a latte and a vegan pain au chocolat in the Mocha Pot, Clapton.
The difference with tomorrow’s journey, as I’ve said before, is that this is a complete 2-night stay by myself, there and back. But what else makes this different is that I’m not taking my usual train. Or my usual one after my usual one. Instead, I’m heading out on the 14:31 train (j’arrive à 17:49 – yep, try saying that on the blogcast!)
I’ve nowhere near packed – although I roughly know what I’m taking – even updating my to-do list on ChatGPT. But physically packing takes place tonight after rugby with the boys. Usually, my mentality with Paris is that if I forget anything, I’ll simply pick buy it over there. Yet, since taking the podcast to the screen, it’s not always that easy. I’m not taking any audio recording devices with; aside from the microphone for the cameras. I have 2 DJI Mic 2s and a set of DJI Mic Minis so I’m pretty much covered for impromptu conversations which we all know won’t be happening. Again. I’m hoping that my TCL Nxtpaper 50 Pro allow me to copy the SD cards from the cameras to my pCloud drive via hotel WiFi.
I got told by my manger yesterday – namecheck Keith – that I have something like 5.1 hours to take as annual leave before the end of the month. I would’ve used those today but I’ve actually got some work that needs completing as well as my 6-8 weekly check-ins. So instead, I’m looking into doing something totally different. By using these 5.1 hours and combining them with some flexitime that built up, I’m going to take a full day off; I’ve been informed it’s possible to do this, although I shall definitely check this shortly. And with this day off, I’m going to attempt to get to Paris by bus, overnight. Then I’ll spend around 15 hours walking through the City of Light until my bus is ready to bring me back, overnight. I’ll then spend the next day working from home. Recovering. Having an early night. And then getting the boys the following morning. This is the concept. Which will require careful, thoughtful, consideration and planning.
Whilst it doesn’t remove any pressure from this initial trip, in terms of recording Season 4, it merely means I have more material to try and feed into a 10-episode season. Or it’ll be a special episode. Maybe for subscribers only. Or maybe I won’t film at all and simply sit in a café and write. And find a park to sleep in during the day. Or I could go shopping, instead.
The more I think about these confirmed or otherwise trips, the more I feel like I have no direction with the podcast. I know exactly what I’m after but by producing such a high level first season, I’m struggling to find the time to create such a thing again. I know the show is about organic growth and direction but it should also remain fun to do. With constant changes in my day-to-day patterns, I’m not fully finding the flow I need to get my jam on. Nev being away for 10 days should help a little but there’s still the office, and the dentist both vying for my time. This season should’ve been nailed during Christmas but the learning curve was too long and the silences for creativity simply didn’t happen. That said, possibly, the creative silences did happen. Are they like writer’s block? Who knows? At least the blog is sort of up to date. And the file-storage system is under control a little more. I need to record more blogcast episodes and start to maintain a lead in my vlogcast episode editings. Don’t get me wrong, whilst this entire paragraph – an actual page of my ‘Coffee Pot Conversations’ notebook volume – may appear a little down and negative, I’m still very much enjoying the journey that I’m on. I enjoy having the boys watch my episodes every 2nd and 4th Tuesday (and Wednesday morning) of the month. Afterall, this whole endeavour is also for them and their futures.
An Englishman in Paris 